Luggage



L. F. GUSS Jan. 16, 1968 LUGGAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed OCL. l, 1965 lvzagfv l ZQJMS-fws. MAX R. KRAUS ATTY Jan. 16, 1938 l.. F. Guss LUGGAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l, 1965 MAX F2. KRA Us ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,363,730 LUGGAGE Louis F. Guss, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Beco Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 492,@60 5 Claims. (Cl. 19th-49) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLSURE A luggage or carrying case in which the inside lining for the shell of the case is secured without adhesive or sewing and held in secured position by a strip which engages the linging, which strip in turn is secured to the shell.

This invention relates to improvements in luggage.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a luggage or carrying case in which the lining or inside fabric covering is secured to the shells forming the luggage without adhesive or sewing.

In the forming of conventional luggage or the like, the lining or covering which lines the inside of the luggage is usually secured to the shell of the luggage by an adhesive or by sewing or the like. This is a time-consuming process and increases the cost of the finished product. With the present invention this is eliminated as the lining and the parts associated therewith are positioned within the shell or body of the structure and the lining and related parts are held therein without gluing or sewing.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to one of the shells ofthe luggage.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of the parts comprising the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 4 is a View taken on the same lines as FIG. 3 but showing a modification,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View taken from the rear of the luggage forming this invention.

Referring to the drawing, the luggage or case is formed of a pair of shell members, one of which is shown and designated by the numeral 1i). The shells are preferably molded of a plastic material, although shells formed in any other manner could be used. The shell lil has a base 12 anda continuous border 14 extending substantially at right angles to the base. The base 12 forms the side wall of the luggage body while the border 14 forms the spaced sides 15 and spaced ends 16 of the shell. Each shell forms onehalf of the body of the luggage. The manner of hinging or securing the two shells together to form the body of the luggage or case and the latching means are convens tional and will not be described herein as it forms no part of the invention.

The invention herein is directed to the manner and means of lining or covering the inside of each shell without the use of adhesive or stitching, and this will now be described.

A corrugated board 17 is positioned against the base 12. The corrugated board is of a size which is less than the length and width of the base 12. The corrugated board is not glued or otherwise secured to the shell but is merely layed against the base 12 and is positioned so that the side and end border edges 18 and 19 of the corrugated board 17 are centrally positioned with respect to the base 12, leaving a slight space or crevice 20 between each of the opposite side border edges 18 of the board 17 and the sides of the shell. A similar space or crevice (not shown) is provided between the opposite end border edges 3,363,730 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 ICC 19 of the corrugated board 17 and the ends 16 of the shell. While a corrugated board 17 is shown and described, it will be understood that any other type of board or panel may be used in lieu thereof, as long as the side and end border edges of the board or panel permit the formation of the slight space or crevice 20 above described.

The lining, generally indicated by the numeral 22, is layed against the corrugated board 17 without being stitched or glued thereto. The lining 22 consists of a conventional piece of fabric which has stitched to the underside thereof a layer of cushioning material, which is conventional in the art. In the drawing, the numeral 22 designates the lining fabric as well as the cushioning material secured thereto. The said lining is positioned iiat against the surface of the corrugated board and the lining 22 is longer and wider than the board 17 or base 12 of the shell so that the lining is turned upwardly along the sides and ends thereof to form a continuous upwardly extending border 22 which rests against the lower ends of the spaced sides and ends 15 and 16 of the shell, as best shown in FIG. 3.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the which extends beyond the side and end. borders 18 and 19 of the corrugated board 17 is free to be depressed into the space or crevice 20 between the side border edges 18 of the corrugated board and the sides 15 of the shell. This is likewise true with the space or crevice at the opposite ends between the end edges 18 and the ends 15 of the shell.

A strip or pair of strips, identified by the numeral 26, is adapted to be positioned against the spaced sides and ends 15 and 16 of the shell on the inside of the shell. The strip or strips are of a substantially rigid material, .aving a degree of flexibility, and same is formed preferably of a piece of cardboard material to which has been laminated an acetate fabric material. The strip 26 is posi tioned inside the shell so that the lower edge 28 of said strip rests on the lining 22, with the lower edge 28 positioned in the space or crevice 20` and in the unnumbered space or crevice between the ends 19 and ends 16. The continuous border 23 of the lining 22 is positioned to rest between the spaced sides and ends 15, 16 of the shell and the said strip. The upper edge 29 of the strip 28 is substantially flush with the upper edge of the sides and ends 15 and 16 of the shell.

As shown in FIG. 2, two strips 26 are used to form the inside member, however, one continuous strip having the required length may be used. To complete the assembly, the frame member 30 is applied to the upper edge of the shell. The frame member 30 is made preferably of metal and is of conventional construction and shape, wellknown in the art.

The cross-sectional shape, as best shown in FIG. 3, consists of an inner wall 32 which merges into a channel 34 at the upper end. The channel 34 has a short inner upper wall 36 and a higher outer wall 38, with the outer wall extending downwardly below the horizontal portion of the channel 34. A downwardly facing channel 40 is formed between the walls 32 and 38, with the wall 38 having an inwardly extending lip 42. The frame 30 is positioned to rest on the top of the sides and ends 15 and 16 and the channel 40 embraces and confines the upper portion of strip 26 against the sides and ends of the shell. This completely encloses the upper edge of the shell and locks the strip or strips 26 in position.

The frame 30 is secured to the shell in any conventional rnanner, as by staking or pinning. It will be seen that by thus securing the frame 30, the frame in turn secures the strip 26 in place, which in turn secures the lining 22. The securement of the lining, therefore, is accomplished very readily and economically, and at a considerportion 24 of the lining 3 ably reduced cost, compared to other previous methods.

FIGURE 4 shows a modication in which the corrugated board 17 is eliminated. In this modication the shell is molded so that the base 12 thereof is formed with a continuous rib or raised portion 50 which extends along the opposite sides and ends of the base. The rib 50 serves the same purpose as the border edges 18 and 19 of the corrugated board 17, namely, that of providing a crevice or space 52 which accommodates the lining 22 and also the lower edge 28 of the strip 26 to hold the lining 22' in position.

It will be understood that various changes and modications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A luggage comprising a pair of shell members hingedly secured together, each said shell member having a base and spaced sides and ends forming one-half of the body of said luggage, a lining material positioned to lay against said base, with said lining having an outer edge adapted to lay against the sides and ends of said shell, a strip positioned against said sides and ends of the shell with the outer edge of the lining therebetween, said strip extending substantially the full height of the sides and ends of the shell with the inner edge of the strip engag ing the lining to hold the lining against the shell without the use of adhesive or the like and with the outer edge of the strip substantially ush with the border of the shell, and means engaging the border of the shell and the outer edge of the strip for securing the strip to said shell.

2. A luggage comprising a pair of shell members hingedly secured together, each said shell member having a base and spaced sides and ends forming one-half of the body of said luggage, a board positioned adjacent the base of the shell with the board of an overall dimension less than the base of the shell so that a continuous crevice is formed between the border of the board and the shell, a lining material positioned to lay against said board with said lining having an outer edge adapted to lay against the sides and ends of said shell, a strip positioned against said sides and ends of the shell with the outer edge of the lining therebetween and with the inner edge of the strip positioned adjacent the border edges of the board and engaging the lining and the continuous crevice to hold the lining against the board without the use of adhesive or the like, and means for securing the strip to said shell.

3. A luggage comprising a pair of shell members hingedly secured together, each said shell member having a base and spaced sides and ends forming one-half of the body of said luggage, a lining material positioned to lay against said base, with said lining having an outer edge adapted to lay against the sides and ends of said shell, a strip positioned against said sides and ends of the shell with the outer edge of the lining therebetween, a frame member engaging the shell for securing the strip to said shell, said strip having an inner edge engaging the lining to hold the lining against the shell without the use of adhesive or the like.

4. A luggage comprising a pair of shell members hingedly secured together, each said shell member having a base and spaced sides and ends forming one-half of the body of said luggage, a rib in said shell, a lining material positioned to lay against said base and covering said ri'b, with said lining having an outer edge adapted to lay against the sides and ends of said shell, a strip positioned against said sides and ends of the shell with the outer edge of the lining therebetween, means for securing the strip to said shell, said strip having an inner edge engaging the lining and rib to hold the lining against the shell without the use of adhesive or the like.

5. A structure dened in clairn 4 in which the rib is molded integrally into the base of the shell.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,612,986 l/1927 Reynolds 220-63 2,903,105 9/1959 Harvey 190-41 X 3,126,077 3/1964 Marshall 190-53 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLTN T. GARRETT, JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,

Examiners. 

